PREVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.

Should We Tax The Rich More? (C1)

PAGE 1

Write 5 examples of public services in addition to schools. Then compare your list
PART 1
with a classmate/your teacher, and discuss the questions below.

1 Schools 2

6 PUBLIC 3
SERVICES

5 4

1 What is the quality of public services like in your local area/country?
2 What events/conditions do you think can increase pressure on public services?
3 What are a few different ways to finance public services?

PART 2 Do you know what each of the following taxes refers to? Try to explain each one.

1 2 3
INCOME TAX CONSUMPTION TAX WEALTH TAX

1 Which of these taxes does/doesn’t your country have?
2 If your country has these taxes, do you know anything about the tax rates?

Write the type of tax (from Part 2) you think could fit each idea below. Explain your
PART 3
ideas for each.

1 taxes tend to hit poor people hardest.

2 Countries with low taxes tend to have stronger economic growth.
3 taxes are politically complicated and challenging.
4 taxes might discourage people from working.
5 taxes are often unpopular.
 SHOULD WE TAX THE RICH MORE? Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Should We Tax The Rich More? (C1)
PAGE 2

PREVIEW DISCUSSION

What do you think could be some possible pros

and cons of increasing taxes for the rich?

VIEWING ACTIVITY
What trends does the reporter refer to using the two charts below? Why does he
PART 1
refer to each one? Discuss/Write your answers.

14%
1 2 9%
0:17 0:30 6%

2010 2030 2060

PART 2 Write any pros/cons mentioned in the video for each type of tax.

0:44 1 Income taxes

1:03 2 Consumption taxes

1:17 3 Wealth taxes

Were any of your ideas in Preview, Part 3 the same as the ones mentioned above?

PART 3 Discuss/Write short answers below according to the video. (1:29 - end)

1:29 1 What kind of tax do some other economists advocate?

1:35 2 What is the pro and con of this kind of tax?

1:46
VIEWING FOLLOW-UP Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Should We Tax The Rich More? (C1)
PAGE 3

PART 1 Discuss the questions below.

To what extent do you agree with the ideas presented in the video? Are there any
ideas you specifically agree/disagree with? If so, explain.

PART 2 Read the sentences below out loud. What do you think each idiom in bold means?

1
“ Everyone depends on hospitals, roads, police and schools, but they’re
expensive, and governments across the world are feeling the pinch.”

2
“ Taxes on wealth are always unpopular, but sooner or later, governments
are going to have to bite the bullet.”

PART 3 Match each noun below to the idioms in the sentences. One noun isn’t used!

bank | sand | hole | drain | dent

1 I don’t quite see the point of raising taxes for the rich. The government
will still find a way to throw our money down the !

2 I think we should slightly raise taxes for the rich. The current tax rates for the
rich barely make a in their fortunes, and it’s not like a small
increase would break the for them.

3 Tax rates in the UK are already at 45% for those with an income of £125,000
or higher. At some point, we need to draw a line in the before
capital flight occurs and the rich decide to take their wealth to tax havens.

Define each idiom above and discuss whether you agree/disagree with each idea.

Tick () which points below you think would be used to argue for or against
PART 4
increasing wealth taxes. Explain your choices. Use a dictionary/internet if necessary.

1 Tax evasion 4 Government incompetence

2 Revenue generation 5 Reduced innovation incentive
3 Income inequality 6 Inclusive economy
DEBATE » TAXING THE RICH MORE Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Should We Tax The Rich More? (C1)
PAGE 4

OPTION 1: DEBATE A WEALTH TAX INCREASE

• Work with a classmate/your teacher.

• Imagine your country just proposed an increase on wealth taxes.
• Take one of the roles and read your role description.

STUDENT A: STUDENT B:

You oppose the idea of a new wealth You support the idea of a new wealth
tax. Argue your side. Use at least 3 of tax. Argue your side. Use at least 3
the words/phrases below. of the words/phrases below.

• line in the sand • incentive • feel the pinch • make a dent

• incompetence • tax havens • bite the bullet • inclusive
• down the drain • land tax • revenue • inequality

OPTION 2: ADDITIONAL TAX DEBATES

• Work with a classmate/your teacher.

• Debate/Discuss some or all of the topics below and explain your arguments.

Debate Topics!
1 Should tax havens be banned?
2 Should there be increased taxes on carbon emissions?
3 Should people with low incomes be exempt from paying taxes?
4 Should small businesses receive tax incentives for economic growth?
5 Could society be better without taxes altogether?

OPTION 3: PROPOSE A NEW TAX

• Work with a classmate/your teacher.

• Think of a new kind of tax, propose it to the public, and justify it. New tax!

THE NEW TAX:

QUIZ & REVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Should We Tax The Rich More? (C1)
PAGE 5

PART 1 Answer each question below according to the information in the video.

1 Why has pressure on public services increased?

2 What is the expected trend the reporter mentions about healthcare?
3 What were the 4 kinds of taxes discussed and the pros/cons of each kind?

PART 2 Write the missing idioms that fit the sentences below and define each one.

1 Everyone depends on hospitals, roads, police and schools, but they’re

expensive, and governments across the world are .

2 Taxes on wealth are always unpopular, but sooner or later, governments

are going to have to .

3 I don’t quite see the point of raising taxes for the rich. The government will
still find a way to !

4 I think we should slightly raise taxes for the rich. The current tax rates for the
rich barely in their fortunes, and it’s not like a small
increase would for them.

5 Tax rates in the UK are already at 45% for those with an income of £125,000
or higher. At some point, we need to before
capital flight occurs and the rich decide to take their wealth to tax havens.

Write the missing parts of the points below that could be used to argue for or against
PART 3
increasing wealth taxes.

1 Tax 4 Government
2 Revenue 5 Reduced innovation
3 Income 6 economy

LESSON REFLECTION:

Discuss the topics below about the lesson.

1 Did you learn or use any new vocabulary or phrases in this lesson? If so, what?
2 What did you learn about taxes?
3 What did you enjoy about the lesson?
4 Is there anything you found difficult about the lesson?